CEO FASHION SHOW
Style And Substance
The Toofles Style For Smiles show held in Mumbai recently saw India Inc’s big hitters walk the ramp—for a cause.
Reason to smile: Madhabi Puri-Buch, CEO of ICICI Securities, is the brain behind the Toofles Foundation, which earned Rs 3 crore for charity.
Priyam Dhar
The Crystal Ballroom at the Taj Mahal Hotel in South Mumbai hosted an unusual fashion show on the evening of October 2. It didn’t have skinny models or Bollywood actresses walking the ramp. Instead, the models were the who’s who of India Inc, showing off the creations of Anamika Khanna, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Wendell Rodricks and The Collective (by Madura Garments).
The 50 ‘supermodels’ were walking the ramp to support the second season of the Toofles Style for Smiles show. In attendance were bigwigs like Hindustan Unilever CEO Nitin Paranjpe, Cadbury India MD Anand Kripalu, ONGC Chairman RS Sharma, Ogilvy Chairman Piyush Pandey, Kotak Mahindra MD Falguni Nayar, Aditya Birla Group Financial Services CEO Ajay Srinivasan, Bain Capital MD Amit Chandra and RBS Country Head Meera Sanyal.
The event came at the end of Give India Foundation’s Joy of Giving Week. It was organised by the Toofles Foundation, spearheaded by Madhabi Puri-Buch, CEO, ICICI Securities. It wasn’t just style. Each time a CEO stepped on to the catwalk, he or she made a difference to the lives of thousands of underprivileged people by supporting an NGO of his or her choice. Says Piyush Pandey: “I will walk the length of a ramp and 50 people will walk for life.” Pandey was walking in support of Jaipur Foot.
The aim was to get people to donate things, time and talent—not just money. “The idea is to get the CEOs together to do something for a cause and not merely sign a cheque,” concurs Puri-Buch.
The CEOs were indeed sporting! There was childlike excitement and anxiety on many faces as the designers bustled about giving final touches to their outfits. A few of the ‘models’ wanted to know how they could cover their paunches.
Most took practice walks on a trial ramp set up close by, with experts giving them a crash course on how to handle the catwalk. While some were self-conscious, others were having a blast. Anand Kripalu of Cadbury was showing off his new Titan watch (Titan had given out complimentary watches to all the CEOs present).
RS Sharma of ONGC seemed out of sorts in his black suit and bow tie. “I would have been more comfortable in a traditional outfit, but I don’t mind. After all, it’s for a cause,” he said. Anjali Bansal of Spencer Stuart agreed. “I would have never worn such bright clothes, I am doing it because it is for a cause.” Bansal was dressed in a red crushed silk sari with diamond-studded Kundan jewellery from Tanishq.
By the end of the show, Toofles Foundation had raked in Rs 3 crore. “Last year we raised Rs 50 lakh and this year it has been a quantum jump,” says Puri-Buch. “Well, I am a banker and this is what I have been trained to do—multiply growth and revenues!”
All in all, a good day’s work.
Manish Kejriwal | CEO, Temasek HoldingsI walked the ramp for: St Jude India Childcare Centre.
My style icon: Richard Gere.
My favourite brands: Patek Philippe and Bulgari .
My most prized possession: Patek Philippe watch.
On my to-buy list: Nothing.
I shop in: New York. In India, it is the Palladium Mall at the Phoenix Mills in Mumbai.
Maheshwer Peri | Publisher, Outlook GroupI walked the ramp for: An NGO supporting education.
My style icon: Gandhi for his minimalism.
My favourite brand: Hugo Boss.
My most prized possession: My watch—a Tissot.
On my to-buy list: Another watch.
I shop at: Zara in New York, S.Oliver in Frankfurt, Palladium in Mumbai and Select Citywalk in Delhi.
Anjali Bansal | CEO, Spencer StuartI walked the ramp for: Teach For India .
My style icon: No one. You need your own identity.
For me, the sari is an icon. A traditional Indian sari makes a statement of Indianness and our heritage.
My favourite brand: I am not brand conscious. I look for quality, comfort and elegance.
My most prized possession: Old Kanjeevaram saris.
On my to-buy list: Nothing.
I shop at: The duty-free shops at airports. I love to walk down Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue. In India, I shop anywhere and everywhere—from Khadi to Ensemble and Courtyard.
Roopa Kudva | MD, CRISILI walked the ramp for: Snehalaya.
My style icon: Indra Nooyi.
My favourite brands: I am not really a brands person. But I am fond of Gucci and Calvin Klein bags.
My most prized possessions: Books.
On my to-buy list: I would like to have a peaceful house with a huge garden.
I shop at: Nalli. Abroad, I like window shopping at Fifth Avenue in New York.
Nitin Paranjpe | CEO, Hindustan UnileverI walked the ramp for: AshaDaan.
My style icon: No one.
My favourite brands: My Unilever brands!
My most prized possessions: My health and happiness.
On my to-buy list: Nothing.
I shop: Anywhere.
Anand Kripalu | MD, CadburyI walked the ramp for: The Akshay Patra Foundation.
My style icon: Anand Mahindra.
My favourite brands: Ferragamo, Zodiac, Montblanc and Omega. I must also mention Titan because they just gave a free watch!
My most prized possessions: My Montblanc watch and my memories.
On my to-buy list: Nothing.
I shop: Wherever I am.
Marten Pieters | CEO, Vodafone IndiaI walked the ramp for: CHILDLINE India Foundation.
My style icon: Steve Jobs. He is always well dressed and is very bright.
My favourite brands: Chopard watches, Aston Martin cars and Lacoste apparel.
My most prized possession: Sailing boat.
On my to-buy list: Nothing.
I shop at: Colaba, in Mumbai. In London, Bond Street and Oxford Street.
Naresh Hosangady | CEO, Diebold System IndiaI walked the ramp for: Door Step Foundation.
My style icon: Ratan Tata.
My favourite brands: Rolex and BMW.
My most prized possession: Honda Accord.
On my to-buy list: Nothing.
I shop at: Palladium in Mumbai. My favourite international shopping destinations are Hong Kong, New York and Shanghai.
Anu Aga | Retired chairperson, ThermaxI walked the ramp for: Teach For India.
My style icon: No one.
My favourite brand: Fab India.
My most prized possessions: My daughter and family are my most prized possessions. I don’t value material things much.
On my to-buy list: A healthy mind and body is what I always want to possess.
I shop at: Fab India and Anokhi. I don’t shop overseas as I believe in value for money.
Falguni Nayar | MD, Kotak Mahindra CapitalI walked the ramp for: Make-A-Wish Foundation.
My style icon: Anu Aga.
My favourite brands: Louis Vuitton bags and shoes from Ferragamo and Jimmy Choo.
My most prized possession: My sarees. I hunt for the most traditional ones across the country.
On my to-buy list: I recently saw a very nice saree at the Taj store in Delhi and now I am dying to possess it.
I shop at: Mango and Zara in India. Overseas, I prefer Brooks Brothers. Fifth Avenue in New York is one of my favourite shopping destinations.
Colvyn Harris | CEO, JWT India
I walked the ramp for: Joy Of Giving.
My style icons: Gautam Singhania, Vijay Mallya and Sunil Bharti Mittal.
My favourite brands: I like Armani and Hugo Boss clothing, watches by Rolex and Jaguar cars.
My most prized possession: I drive a Mercedes to work everyday and that is my prized possession.
On my to-buy list: I am dying to possess a beach house and boat jetty in a place like Sentosa Islands.
I shop at: I shop at Palladium in Mumbai. In London, on Bond street and on New York’s Fifth Avenue.
Dharmesh Jain | CMD, Nirmal Lifestyle
I walked the ramp for: CARE Foundation.
My style icon: Ratan Tata.
My favourite brands: Armani for clothes, Franck Muller watches, D&G for denims. Among Indian designers, I like Rohit Bal’s clothes.
My most prized possession: Watches.
On my to-buy list: Ferrari.
I shop at: In Mumbai, I shop at Palladium and Taj Hotel. In London, I shop on Bond Street and in New York on Fifth Avenue.
Source : http://www.outlookbusiness.com
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